The grid (View > Grid and Helplines > Display Grid) is showing tiny dots that become barely perceivable when zooming in. It was suggested on the mailing list https://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/design/msg08925.html to change the dots to symbol such as a plus that increases it's size on zoom. This idea is supported by the design team.
Reported in bug 120720 *** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 120720 ***
*** Bug 120720 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
(In reply to Xisco Faulí from comment #2) > *** Bug 120720 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. *** It was actually the original and attachment 145842 [details], attachment 145843 [details], and attachment 145875 [details] are quite useful.
"Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw" all use this grid design.
Created attachment 203612 [details] POC: writer 75% zoom
Created attachment 203613 [details] POC: writer 100% zoom
Created attachment 203614 [details] POC: writer 200% zoom
Created attachment 203615 [details] POC: calc 100% zoom
Created attachment 203616 [details] POC: calc 200% zoom
Created attachment 203617 [details] POC: draw 100% zoom
Created attachment 203618 [details] POC: draw 200% zoom
Created attachment 203619 [details] POC: impress 100% zoom
Created attachment 203620 [details] POC: impress 200% zoom
Created attachment 203621 [details] POC: writer grid with subdivisions
Created attachment 203622 [details] POC: writer grid with unequal grid sizes
I created a quick proof of concept implementation to see what the proposed solution would look like. I attached screenshots of this POC. There are two versions, where the plus symbol size has a proportion of 1 / 4 and 1 / 8 compared to the grid distance.
I'd go with the less obtrusive solution, so 1/8.
(In reply to Heiko Tietze from comment #17) > I'd go with the less obtrusive solution, so 1/8. Yes the plus marks remain a needed enhancement to the grid overlay. But visibility at HiDPI DE display resolutions might be more helpful at 1/4 ratio, any option to follow the HiDPI detection? Or otherwise scale the 1/8 upward towards 1/4 or even 1/2 at HiDPI, or even dynamically with high canvas zoom > 200%?
I would prefer, when the cross at the main grid is larger than the subdivision markers.
(In reply to Tamás Zolnai from comment #15) > Created attachment 203622 [details] > POC: writer grid with unequal grid sizes Such unequal grids are kind of uncomfortable to see, and IMHO to work with. I would keep them symmetric for the overlay.
(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #20) > (In reply to Tamás Zolnai from comment #15) > > Created attachment 203622 [details] > > POC: writer grid with unequal grid sizes > > Such unequal grids are kind of uncomfortable to see, and IMHO to work with. > I would keep them symmetric for the overlay. But different distances for horizontal and vertical are possible in current LibreOffice. I don't actually know who uses it, but can imaging that they might be useful, if you want to align the graphical grid with the baseline grid or with the raster of East Asian scripts.
(In reply to Regina Henschel from comment #21) > (In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #20) > > (In reply to Tamás Zolnai from comment #15) > > > Created attachment 203622 [details] > > > POC: writer grid with unequal grid sizes > > > > Such unequal grids are kind of uncomfortable to see, and IMHO to work with. > > I would keep them symmetric for the overlay. > > But different distances for horizontal and vertical are possible in current > LibreOffice. I don't actually know who uses it, but can imaging that they > might be useful, if you want to align the graphical grid with the baseline > grid or with the raster of East Asian scripts. Correct as usual :-) Tools -> Options -> Writer|Calc|Draw|Impress -> Grid with defaults of symmetric increments, but users can adjust...
A few notes: * Using '+' is only relevant where there's an actual intersection of lines. In some of the screenshots we see ++++++ + + + + ++++++ instead of +----+ | | | | +----+ * Please don't create a situation where the grid is too distracting from the contents, the shapes. With some of the screenshots - it _is_ very distracting. * The opening comment complained about grid indicators becoming "barely perceivable" - many users want exactly that: Something you only notice if you're paying attention to it, and is otherwise easy to ignore. So, even though I like plus marks over dots (for intersections), I am worried that a patch here would tie up that issue with the issue of changing grid indicators' weight, darkness, width etc. So - perhaps separate the two issues? Or make the weight, darkness width changes optional?
(In reply to Eyal Rozenberg from comment #23) > instead of > > +----+ > | | > | | > +----+ A dash in that direction as subdivision marker is not helpful in positioning an object. So better go with dot or small cross.
(In reply to Regina Henschel from comment #24) > A dash in that direction as subdivision marker is not helpful in positioning > an object. So better go with dot or small cross. Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to suggest dashes. Dots are fine (or at least - that would be a subject for another bug). I just mean that it shouldn't be a cross.